Used to have a very nice 69 Martin D-12-35 which I sold years ago. Recently, I've been rehearsing for an upcoming traditional recording using my wife's 'Martin label' Takamine 12 string. All solid mahogany. The tuners are original and though they're a fairly lowgrade set they hold pitch very well. The 3 songs selected so far for 12 string are 'Flora, The Lily of the West', 'The Last Rose of Summer' and 'Wildwood Flower'. It's like falling in love. I find myself getting lost in the shimmering tones just sitting and playing G and C back and forth for 1/2 an hour.

The one thing I've really had to work on is 'sounding' both strings when doing melody/rhythm solos. There's practically no such thing as an 'upstroke' while playing a melody because the smaller 'octave' string wont ring on the upstroke. I'm also at the same time trying to do arrangements of 'Wade in the Water' w/a 'dropped D' and 'Wafaring Stranger' w/t same tuning. Neither of those songs will be played on 12, but it's whipping me into shape, that's for sure. What it's forcing me to do is to re-develope my finger picking w/finger picks instead of bare fingers. She's stern taskmaster, this Miss Tak and isn't giving up her music easily, but I've a feeling when I've earned it she'll reveal she's had a heart and soul of pure gold the whole time.

When I get a keeper take on any of the aforementioned songs I'll post them on my myspace page and let you all have at it...and in true Mudcat fashion I'll expect to be called on it if I cut any corners.